Sales Inquiries

In a single, interconnected production environment, where any device can connect to every other device–and every source is also a destination–live production has limitless possibilities. The future of live production is at NewTek today. Get started with NDI.

"Using the NewTek TriCaster in house here at EMC2 enables us to make a television quality production with a very limited crew." – David Ross, Senior Manager EMC2 TV EMC2, a multinational corporation in the data storage, cloud computing industry...

Drones: Resources for Rules and Best Practices

The video capabilities of small unmanned aircraft, popularly called drones, have reached a point where they are of major interest for adding additional shot angles for nearly any type of video production. While the craft offer breathtaking views of outdoor events, they can also provide alternate (and mobile) angles for productions taking place inside reasonably large indoor venues, without the limitations a person with a camera would have with respect to movement. The ability to offer both a stable or a moving vantage point can offer both clarity and drama to the subject matter.

We recently highlighted a story about how Atlantic 10 Conference used a DJI Phantom 3 Drone and a TriCaster to cover the 2015 Cross Country Championships. An example of how a drone provides a unique view is shown in a set of images taken from one of the competition videos. The drone was first set stationary above the field and looking at the long starting line of runners. As the race begins, the runners take off first, and gradually the drone begins moving ahead of them, keeping them in view. As the runners speed up, so does the drone, resulting in a dramatic overhead shot of the ground racing by below as the runners surge forward.

All the cool possibilities of drones come with serious obligations. Drones are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and in many cases by state and local laws as well. The FAA has recently issued their operational rules for drones, and another agency, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, has also provided a PDF of “best practices” that drone operators should follow, so that they respect the privacy of the public, of individuals and of property owners in potential flight paths, and operate with a reasonable transparency and accountability for their activities.

Before acquiring and operating drones, video producers should research local and state laws, and make themselves aware of the regulatory and ethical requirements for operation, at the links provided below.